Weigela plant named ‘Verweig’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Weigela  plant named ‘Verweig’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; green, white and red purple variegated leaves; and tolerance to high and low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Weigela florida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Verweig’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigelaplant, botanically known as Weigela florida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Verweig’.

The new cultivar is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Weigelaflorida Tango, not patented. The cultivar Verweig was discovered andselected by the Inventor within a population of plants of the parentcultivar in a controlled environment in Hazerwoude Dorp, The Netherlandsin 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Weigela by softwood cuttings atHazerwoude Dorp, The Netherlands since 2001, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Weigela are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Verweig’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Verweig’as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Green, white and red purple variegated leaves.    -   4. Tolerance to high and low temperatures.

Plants of the new Weigela differ primarily from plants of the parent,the cultivar Tango, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Weigela are more compact with shorter        internodes than plant of the cultivar Tango.    -   2. Plants of the new Weigela have smaller leaves with shorter        petioles than plants of the cultivar Tango.    -   3. Plants of the new Weigela and the cultivar differ in leaf        coloration as plants of the cultivar Tango do not have        variegated foliage.

Plants of the new Weigela can be compared to plants of the Weigelacultivar Nana Variegata, not patented. However, plants of the newWeigela differ from plants of ‘Variegata’ in leaf coloration as leavesof plants of ‘Nana Variegata’ are green and white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Weigela, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Weigela.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘Verweig’.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical plant of ‘Verweig’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowersof ‘Verwig’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Weigela has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich. during the spring and summerin an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices. Plantswere about 2.5 years old when the photographs and the description weretaken.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela florida cultivar Verweig.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Weigela florida    cultivar Tango, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About two months at 25            ° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; soft brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright and outwardly spreading            perennial shrub; mounded plant habit.        -   Growth habit.—Vigourous; dense and bushy growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 40 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching            habit, about 74. Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Young stems, pubescent; older stems, smooth, glabrous.            Color: 177C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:            About 7.3 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Elliptic to ovate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrulate. Texture,            upper surface: Rugose; glabrous. Texture, lower surface:            Ruguse; pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Center, 141A;            towards the margins 158A and 183A. Fully expanded leaves,            upper and lower surfaces: Center, 141A; towards the margins            158A and occasionally, 183A. Venation, upper surface: 145A.            Venation, lower surface: 145B. Petiole: Length: About 2 mm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 145B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single dark pink-colored campanulate            flowers; mostly axillary; about three to seven flowers per            lateral branch. Flowers not persistent. Flowers face outward            or are drooping.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during May and June            in Grand Haven, Mich.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers typically last about two            to four weeks on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 198D.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2 cm. Depth: About 3.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five, fused at base. Length:            About 6 mm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Rounded lobes. Apex:            Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 71D.            When opening, lower surface: 71A. Fully opened, upper            surface: 71C; longitudinal stripe, 15B. Fully opened, lower            surface: 71D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, fused at base. Length:            About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 198D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Orientation: About 20° from vertical. Strength: Moderately            strong. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About            3 mm. Anther diameter: About 1 mm. Anther color: 198D.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 198C. Pistils: Quantity            per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.5 cm. Stigma shape:            Globular, flattened. Stigma color: 158C. Style length: About            3.4 cm. Style color: 158C. Ovary color: Close to 143C.        -   Seed/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Weigela have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Weigela.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Weigela have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from −30 to 38° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plant named ‘Verweig’, asillustrated and described.